Publications

YTKO

Start-ups

Co-wrote a book to document the experience of YTKO, a business and economic development organization headquartered in Cambridge, UK, in implementing a proof-of-concept programme to take early stage science to potential commercizliation and to support researchers on their enterprise journey in commercializing their know-how. The programme started as a pilot and flourished into a three-year programme, funding by Yorkshire Forward, the Regional Development Agency for the Yorkshire and Humber region in the UK. The book is based on interviewing the course presenters and taking their presentations and hand-outs, and turning the material into chapters of a book.

To anyone looking for a public speaker, I would suggest that booking Lesley is an easy and excellent decision to make. She delivered a really interesting talk at a recent evening event. The audience were completely engaged, and definitely enjoyed the session, as judged by the rousing applause at the end. Her style of personal anecdotes, audience participation and deep insight based on experiences were a great combination. I would happily recommend her to anyone looking for an entrepreneurial public speaker with great stage presence.

Alex Stanier

Lesley is an excellent speaker and workshop leader, specialised in developing leadership skills. I participated in an interactive taster session on ‘listening skills for leaders’. We were a group of senior business consultants and founders and the session went down a storm. We learned a lot about ourselves and each other and it was great fun too. I wholeheartedly recommend Lesley as a highly skilled business trainer and mentor.

LInda Eziquiel

Lesley mentored us over a long period and we couldn’t have gotten a better person to help us on our journey. Lesley is full of knowledge, understanding and always has your best interests at heart. My favourite part is when going over business plans with Lesley, she proudly announces her goosebumps and then instantly brings brilliant ideas to the table – a common occurrence when working with Lesley. Lesley is flexible and adapts to your needs, and is a delight to work with and is truly aspiring. I would highly recommend anyone to get involved with her.

Gerben (Jamie) Amstel, Founder/Director

Lesley is great! She has positive energy, clarity of message and a broad outlook that makes her relate very quickly to different clients. I was in one of her workshops last Monday – on the hard topic of cold calling, something that scares everyone. We were a very diverse group, including people selling specialists cinema chairs and retailers of medical lab equipment. I am the director of an urban strategy company. Our businesses could not have been more different, and the roles too: some people in sales, some people doing sales as part of a wider role. Lesley could relate very closely and personally to everyone, so we had (each of us) what felt like a tailored workshop of our own. I am looking forward to the opportunity to learn more from Lesley and make our business more effective.

Martina Juvara, Director

Lesley has been providing both superb mentoring through the Essex Innovation Program, where she has helped me remain focused, using her calm approach and considerable achievements and experience. She has also through her LAR Consultancy business been creative and energised to support my business with its commercial strategy and development and network. She is a joy to work with and at all times has been passionate about wanting to help success be achieved.

John Rawlings, CEO

I worked closely with Lesley for a period of 6 months when she was the Managing Director of Maayan Ventures – Israel’s first technological incubator. Lesley is a true professional and a win-win person. Although she held the position of venture capital seed investor in my start-up company – Applisonix, she had been great to work with, even when disputes surfaced and had to be resolved. Her knowledge in qualifying the value and risks in early-stage start-ups is unparalleled. Lesley is definitely a personal and professional delight to work with.

Amir Barzilay

It is my pleasure to recommend Lesley Anne to your organisation, her performance working as a Managing Director at Maayan Ventures proved that she will be a valuable addition to any engagement. I have known Lesley Anne for ten years in my capacity since 2001 where I had a role of high technology project manager and used my Information Technology project management skills to run more sophisticated high technology project, reporting to the Board of Directors and to Lesley Anne in particular.
Lesley Anne successfully managed Maayan Ventures, the parent corporation to the number of the high technology start-up companies with a high rate of the success and based on her work, I would rank her as one of the best Managing Directors I have ever had within my 15 years Information Technology and Project Management career.
Lesley Anne distinguished herself by consistently submitting exceptionally well-researched and well-written deliveries and reports to the relevant stake and stock holders, wisely scheduling and managing the projects budget, time and resources, executing risk assessments and mitigating those using extraordinary interpersonal abilities, precisely estimated work and project schedule by establishing a high quality methodology, which, in the end of the day, was a real cost saving to the program within the defined detailed project scope.
Lesley is highly intelligent and has excellent analytical and communication skills.
If her performance in Maayan Ventures was a good indication of how she would perform in yours, she would be an extremely positive asset to your program.

Adi V. Mogilevsky, M.B.A.

Peter Parsons

Lesley Anne is full of energy and can be relied upon to get things done. She is a good networker and is not afraid to establish new contacts in unfamiliar business areas – an invaluable asset if you are trying to establish or grow new businesses. She ran the Enterpise Hub well and gave our company great support during her time at Canterbury. She has great knowledge of how to overcome challenges faced by small and growing companies – everything from business support to fund raising.

Bob Muir, Managing Director

I first met Lesley when I enquired at the Thames Innovation Centre; she was extremely motivated, with incredible organisational skills, as well she seems to be connected to everyone! Although I didn’t go with TIC in the end, I did maintain contact with Lesley.

She’s since become someone I enjoy contacting whenever I “need to know” something! Lesley seems to have the answers or solution to many problems, and if she doesn’t then she will definitely find the person who will!

I’m looking forward to her assistance with my latest venture: ASG Engineering Ltd. a metal fabrication company, with her business skills I know I’m in good hands! Lesley is definitely the type of business associate you want working on your side!

Sophia Kusderci, Managing Director

We worked with Lesley in the early stages of our business at the Thames Innovation Centre. She helped us with introducing quality contacts to us and put us in touch with a local college to help with apprenticeship programmes.

Rob Hughes, Lift Engineering Recruitment, Training & Development

I met Lesley around 4 years ago when I moved my pet sitting business into the Thames Innovation Centre; I ran the business from there for one year before selling it and during this time Lesley’s advice and guidance was invaluable to me.

Lesley is pro-active and a ‘doer’ her positive and friendly attitude is an inspiration – everything is jotted down and dealt with efficiently and effectively. It was a pleasure to work with Lesley and I would highly recommend her on to any company looking for her skills.

Marilyn Lewis, Founder

Josu Shephard

I am very pleased to write this recommendation on behalf of Lesley. I have had the pleasure of working with Lesley as a consultant for the last four years. During this timespan, she has helped MyCheck to establish our operations in the UK. Her assistance extended towards various aspects – from business development in securing accounts with new suppliers to scrutinising and managing governance issues. She has handled a full range of responsibilities and effectively multi-tasked different business areas with dedication and charisma. Lesley is a soul player who never fails to go the extra mile to ensure that all deliverables are met with the highest of calibre. Having worked with several consultants, it’s rare to find one that is truly dedicated to learning the complete dynamics of the business, and providing undivided support as a team member. From my experiences with Lesley, she would be an invaluable asset to any business and I recommend her for any endeavour she chooses to pursue. If you have any additional questions, I will be happy to provide further information.

Gil Hazan, SVP Business Development & Managing Director Europe

Lesley is a straight talking, highly experienced, intelligent, results focussed, time saving business consultant with huge levels of insight and knowledge. Gone are the days of having to waste time speaking to people whom do nothing but float around buzz words that mean nothing because Lesley will not waste your time or hers talking industry waffle. She is amazing to have around your business and in the annoyingly short time we have worked with her to date (if only she would have been around longer) we have generated an increase in revenue of 62%. I and everyone at Ginger Nut Media would have no hesitation in recommending Lesley to clients, colleagues and the whole of the professional galaxy alike. We would have no hesitation in using her services again and we would unreservedly recommend that anyone whom wants to grow their business does the same – don’t use her too much though as we want her all to ourselves!

Phil Warnock, Managing, Director

Lesley is serving as the Head of our UK office and is also in charge of our International Business Development, finding new companies that can distribute our products locally. She rapidly learned all about our company and the market, understood our pros and cons, in order to be able to emphasize our advantages in her offering to potential partners/clients. All of the above is implemented with a lot of passion to succeed, finding new ways of approach, especially when the market was tough. Thanks Les.

Ofer Keshet, VP Marketing & Sales,

I have worked with Lesley over many years. A true professional, she works very hard for her clients and to understand the dynamics of their businesses, and she has great energy and vision and is full of relevant and practical advice. I always enjoy meetings with her!

Nicky Androsov, Partner

I have worked with Lesley for just over 6 months since joining MyCheck. In Lesley, I have discovered an enlightened consultant with considerable knowledge of the industrial field in which our company operates, including a detailed understanding of our competition. She demonstrates an in depth appreciation of our products and our company’s clients. She has the ability to work independently on both intra-company as well as external projects, executing them well in a pleasant, professional, conscientious and focused manner. I am confident that any organisation that chooses to work with Lesley will be making the right choice.

Itay Nebenzahl,

I am working with Lesley for almost 3 years now and I have to say that she is most pleasant person to work with, she is very well organized, always thinks 3 steps ahead and gives a new way of thinking, bringing her experience and her social networking connections along. She makes a perfect partner!!! I would recommend whoever is starting a new journey to use her services.

Case Studies

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